Shoreline School District outlines timelines for potential 2026 levies and 2028 bond measure

Shoreline School District leaders on March 11 opened a study-session discussion on financing options that would ask voters to renew the district’s operating levy and consider a capital/technology levy in February 2026, and to place a potential bond measure on the February 2028 ballot.

Assistant Superintendent Angela Van Essen told the board the district plans to form a levy committee in April 2025 to develop a recommendation for board approval in July 2025 and, separately, a long-range facilities committee in September–December 2025 to prepare a bond proposal for board consideration in July 2027. “We’re proposing running two levies in February 2026, which would consist of an enhanced levy and a combined capital levy to include technology and facility improvements,” Van Essen said.

The board was presented with the reasons for splitting the work into committees, the types of levies and bonds available, and the legal and technical constraints that shape proposals. Van Essen explained levies are annual local property taxes that typically cover items the state does not, such as salaries, special education, extracurriculars, technology and shorter-term capital work; bonds are long-term debt for new construction or major modernizations and require 60% voter approval.

Mark Pressing, executive director…